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    Perfect Man
    Perfect Man
    Perfect Man
    Ebook97 pages1 hour

    Perfect Man

    By Shawn Lane

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    About this ebook

    Alex Nichols’ sister sets him up on a blind date with the perfect man, a man who has haunted his dreams for ten years. Craig Fontaine was his fantasy as far back as high school, but Craig did his best to humiliate Alex back then over coming out.

    Now, ten years later, they both have successful careers and Craig claims to be gay. At first Alex is certain this is Craig’s version of a joke, but it soon becomes clear things have changed. Craig really is gay and hotter than ever.

    But Craig has a dark past that threatens their future, and Alex may lose his perfect man before they have a chance at happily ever after.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJMS Books LLC
    Release dateMay 26, 2018
    ISBN9781634866477
    Perfect Man
    Author

    Shawn Lane

    Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romance. She lives and works in Southern California. She has been published by Loose Id, Amber Quill Press, Evernight Publishing, MLR Press, JMS Books, and Ellora’s Cave. For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.

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      Book preview

      Perfect Man - Shawn Lane

      Epilogue

      Chapter 1

      I have the perfect man for you, Alex.

      I’m not really looking for a man right now, perfect or otherwise, Alexander Nichols told his sister. He shifted his cell phone to his other ear and continued to type the email message to his client.

      Don’t you think it’s time you started dating?

      It hasn’t been that long, Jill.

      Jill sighed heavily. Travis broke up with you eight months ago. He’s moved on. He’s got a new boyfriend and Ken said he told him they are talking about moving in together.

      Alex paused, his fingers poised over the keyboard. His ex-boyfriend’s brother, Ken, also happened to be Jill’s husband. It made things more than a little awkward at family gatherings. What few they’d had since Travis had dumped him. He winced and resumed typing.

      Whatever. What does that have to do with me?

      The point is you seem rather pathetic because you haven’t even gone on a single date since.

      How do you know?

      Silence greeted his question, but only for about ten seconds. Have you?

      Alex was tempted to lie. He really was. A tiny white lie would shut his sister up. At least for a short time. Nothing ever shut his older sister up for good.

      Well…I had coffee with someone a couple of weeks ago. He had, sort of. The coffee place he frequented ran out of tables and an old man sitting alone at one of them invited him to take the vacant chair.

      Hmm. That’s a start, I suppose. Have you seen him again?

      Sure, Alex saw the man all the time since he too frequented the coffee place. He shrugged. I’ve seen him a few times.

      I still think you can meet my guy for a drink.

      Alex rolled his eyes and hit send. Your guy?

      You know what I mean. I work with Craig. He’s as handsome as sin, educated, owns his own home, drives a Mercedes. Charming and interesting too. I know a lot of women who wish he wasn’t gay.

      Alex stared at the window of his tenth-floor office in the Century City section of Los Angeles. It was early February and the sky was overcast. The weathercast had said a slight chance of showers. Still dry as far as he could tell.

      Alex?

      Sorry, I zoned. He leaned back wearily in his chair. It’s been my experience that guys named Craig are all jerks.

      Yeah, okay, but you’re meeting him, his sister insisted. I told him you’d meet him at six thirty tonight.

      What? Jill…

      Oh, calm down. It’s a drink. And he’s meeting you in the bar on the first floor of your own building so you don’t even have to drive anywhere. See how convenient I made it for you?

      I don’t need my big sister to pick up men for me. I don’t like blind dates.

      Jill laughed. Stop whining. I expect a call later tonight telling me how brilliant I am. He’s perfect, Alex, trust me. Gotta run. Bye.

      Alex frowned at his cell and tossed it on his desk. His gaze flew to the clock on his desk. Only forty-five minutes until he was supposed to meet this guy? Blowing out a heavy breath, he considered leaving work now and skipping the whole thing.

      Coward’s way out? Maybe, but he didn’t even agree to meet this guy. He owed his sister big time for this crap.

      * * * *

      Alex couldn’t believe he was sitting at a corner booth in Max’s Bar waiting for some man named Craig. He sipped his beer and checked his watch. His date was already ten minutes late. Swell, stood up by a blind date arranged by his sister. All right, so maybe he was pathetic.

      Five more freakin’ minutes, he muttered out loud.

      As if on cue a tall, dark-haired man in a pinstriped suit appeared in the doorway. He looked to be about twenty-eight, Alex’s own age. He was gorgeous with his classic high cheekbones and chiseled jaw. Movie star looks is what they used to call it. He’d give his sister that much, she did know a good-looking man.

      Too bad he was also one of the biggest pricks Alex had ever known.

      Why in the name of all that was holy hadn’t he found out Craig’s last name from his sister? Craig Fucking Fontaine.

      Idiot.

      Craig glanced in his direction and approached his table with a beautiful perfect smile. Alex’s cock betrayed him by growing hard.

      Alex?

      Craig did not remember him. Perfect. Figured.

      No, sorry. You must have the wrong person, Alex said.

      Craig’s killer smile dimmed for just a moment. Really? You look just like the picture on your sister’s desk.

      Jill and her damn family pictures.

      All right, yes, I’m Alex.

      Sorry I’m late, Craig said, grabbing the empty chair and plopping his six-foot-two-inch frame into it. Traffic was a bitch.

      Uh-huh. Look, um, Craig, I was just leaving.

      Leaving? Hey, I know was a bit late, but…Don’t I know you from somewhere? Craig frowned. You look so familiar. Are you an actor or a model or something?

      Before he could reply the waitress came to their table to take Craig’s order. He ordered a beer and turned back to Alex.

      Alex sighed. Ferguson is my sister’s married name.

      So?

      Her maiden name was Nichols.

      I don’t follow you.

      Dumb jock. Craig had always been a dumb jock. Gritting his teeth, Alex said, I’m Alex Nichols. Didn’t Jill tell you my name?

      Craig shrugged. She just said her brother, Alex, but…

      We went to high school together, Craig, Alex said very slowly.

      Craig continued to frown as though deep in thought. He shook his head. Alex Nichols? I don’t think I remember…Alex Nichols?

      Alex waited for the waitress to set down Craig’s beer. When she walked away, he took a large swallow of his own drink before responding.

      I came out my senior year in high school, he said, wincing a little at the still-painful memories. Hell, it had been ten years, you’d think he’d get over it. You did your best to torture me the rest of the time we were in school.

      Craig opened his mouth and then shut it.

      You took every opportunity you could to humiliate me because I was gay. And now you’re here claiming you’re gay? Please. Alex snorted. You probably found out exactly who my sister is and planned this whole thing just to play some fucked-up game.

      Whoa…Alex. No. Geez, that’s not true. I didn’t know who you were. Craig ran his long-fingered hand through his tousled dark hair. "Man, that was ten years ago. I can’t believe you still

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